Pipe coupling



G. F. HAUF PIPE COUPLING May 23, 1950 Filed July 17. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .F7 mw WH. WFM my. M a# May23,195o f GEH/WF 2,508,716v

PIPE COUPLING Filed July 17. 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VEN TOR. 650%; f1' Mew- Patented May 23, 1950 GeorgeR Hauf; River Forest, Ill., assgnortoGhl-i cagan/letal; Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., acorporatnn,

egrfliepn July. 17, 194,6,l Serial N9.- 6&4,04

(et anales) 2. Claims- My inventionrelatestimprovements in ilexible pipe joints or couplings andan improved method ofV manufacturing, the, same;. and more particularly.A to flexible pipe, joints. orv couplings particularly adapted. to, connect together lengths of irrigationpiping.

Piping for irrigation purposes is ordinarily constructed of sheetl metal; such as galvanized iron insuitable lengths having. coupler. elements on both ends, usually. a malecoupling. member on` one end and a female coupling. member. on the other, so thatthey may be..telescopioally-l joined by some quick detachablemeans, the coupling members also. usually. permitting limited angular misalignment of., the piping.` to. followl the. surface.

terrain ofthe landtobe irrigated. Since such piping is frequently disassembled and moved. to new locations fromtimetotime, it follows that the coupler and-quick detachablemeans must, of

necessity, bel as` simple., and, easy. to, operate as.

possible, yet be rugged. and.. durable so that the same will not easilyibecomabroken or out of order. Further, since the flexible ,jointsmust be fluidl proof and. capable ofwithstanding. comparatively high pressures, special l"attention should.1

be given tothe construction-.ofthe same..

The principal object ofthepresent invention is to providein piping. oftheftypedescribed, an improved typeV ofVv couplingmeans.

A further object of the inventions is topravide an improvedprocess of manufacturing pipe coupling members of the type described.

A further object of. the'invention is to provide prefabricated maler and. female` connector members capable of cnnectiontolengths vof pipe.

of any description so thatrwhe'n an order for irrigation piping is received the pipe may be cut to the desired lengths, theI connector members attached thereto. and the complete piping is ready to beshipped.

A further. object of the.- invention is to provide in combination .with .my improved:v connector members an improved re-inforced collar and means of constructing the same, so that it is capable of maintaining a sealed connection under unusually high pressures and in any angular alignment of the pipe sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved yand simple type of coupling detaching means, so that pipe sections may be easily disconnected even though the coupler members are not easily accessible, such as when buried in mud or lying in the bottom of a ditch as frequently happens in some localities where irrigation pipes are employed.

Other objects and advantages will-Abe moreA apparent from the following description wherein reference is had-to the accompanying-two sheets of `drawings, upon which Fig. 1\ isa planview of my improved coupler member showing a pair of pipe sections connected thereby;V

Fig. 2 is a longitudinalV sectional view through the same taken generallyl onA the lines- 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary-plan View showing the quick detachable` coupler member in theposition it` assumes when the two sections of;V pipe which are connectedaredisposed at-angles;

Fig. 4 is` a cross sectional view 'through the femalecoupler member and associatedpartstaken ing that is formed from ilatv material shaped generally on the lines 4-4' of 2;-aridl Fig. 5 is across sectionalrview taken on the lines 5-5 ofFig. 2 showing thecouplerv elements in their locking position.

In the embodimentoftheV invention which I have chosen to illustrate, in Figs. 1- and 2- I^= have shown a pairV of 'pipessections Illfand I2 of any suitable orv desirable length having. associated therewiththe femalecoupler-v element I4 and the male coupler element- I6 respectively. Thee-pipes I0 and I2, while theymay loe-formed of any-rdesirablematerial such as-cast ironi wrought-iron, sheet-meta'I-or plastic, are preferablyshown as. a comparatively y thin` galvanized? sheet` metal pipabout amandrel-and-weldedtogether in anydesirable manner.

The coupler member-I4 may-be formed with a cylindrical portion I8 havinga portion 2l!v adaptedv to be inserted` into `the forward end v-ofy pipeV I 0 and securely welded tothe portion 22frthereof. A shoulder or. boss 24 lmay-be-mountediupon the top ofthe coupler member I4 *and formed.- with a tapped bore to receive a vertical header- 26K. The

lwall I8 is also preferably formed with an inwardly directed-bead or grooved` portion 2Bat a point spaced yfrom-the end 3 0 ofthe same.

In order to reinforce the-openend-y 30eof1- the female coupler member, I provide a sleeve or ring portion 32 which fits snugly over the end 30 of the coupler member I4 and has a portion 34 turned down into the groove 28 to securely lock the sleeve on the end of the coupler. The sleeve may also have Ia curled portion 36 which forms the reinforced opening through which the forward portion IS-a of the male coupler member I6 may be inserted.

To provide an eiective seal to prevent leakage of uid between the male and female coupler members I provide a generally V-shaped gasket member 38 formed with two annular diverging lip portions 40 and 42 which extend from a thickened apex portion 44. The lip 42 fits against the inner face of the female coupler member I4, being of such size that its extended edge will bear against the annular groove 28. The lip 38 is of a taperedv` or conical form which is adapted to be stretched when the pipes are' connectedv together to afford a liquid tight joint. Thus fluid under pressure which is passing through the pipe bears against the innei` or opposing faces of the lips and as a consequence the liquid pressure in the line assists in keeping the liquid tight seal. Duef to the resiliency of the material of which thegas-s ket member is constructed, it can be seen that the pipe I2 may be angularlyy moved `with relation to pipe l!! or vice versa within limits andan effec- ,said collar member being constructed of thin sheet metal and having an open end, an inwardly ,turned circular ridge formed therein adjacent l5 to and parallel with said open end, a heavy metal cap telescopically mounted over the open end of l said collar member and fastened thereto by havtive seal will nevertheless always be kept between the engaging parts.

To pivotally connect the'pipes l@ vand l2 together and prevent their disengagement; in use, I have provided a strap member 5,0 vthat is Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper surface of the female coupler Ui. g` This strap is formed .l With a circular opening-52 atfits extended end and is adapted to receive a generally,y reotangularly y shaped link 5d. 'I provide a lolockwelded or ...otherwise secured, `:to AY`the; upper., surface. of;VA the male coupler member I and I2. This block may I be -formed with an upwardly extending portion f that has arwall' lat a slight inward taperrso that the link 54 can be .snapped overthaedeeof the same and undermordinary usagelcannotmbe t, removed. The pipes may 'be disconnectedby'using a hook to reachfunderfthe edge of the Iink 512 and pull the sameupwardly. Thereinorcing grooves SS of-,the-malefcouplermember i5 being sufficiently spacedpfrcm the entrance to the f emale coupler i@ so that inward motion may-be obtained toraise the link 5A-.

In.. orderv therefore 12o-assemble, together sections. of irrigation pipe.; provided Vwith my improved male and female couple;` members, it is f only necessarygtoinsert themalemembergthrough the gasketL 3S suiiieiently s o that the link 54 can Vpass over the `upper `edge of the block 5E and rest in the position .ShoWn=in;Figf.2.-e Whenfluid under pressure is placedv in the pipe line ,the same will .have a tendency tonot only ivorcerthe sealing 3 member 3 8 against the walls of A the male and female coupler members but it w,illalso serve to draw the connection taut betweendthe flink ,V54 f and the block 55. When it lis desired to disconnect thel pipe sections and even tloough they may be submerged `innnrd-or ditchesjandv-arefcomparatively inaccessible, Yit is an easy mattertoreach down with a vhook memberand engage below one side of the link 5d -to disconnect thepipe sections. By the usefofrthe reinforcing collar l 32 ing its end turned down into the groove formed -by said inturned ridge, said cap having a front wall with a reduced opening therein, a resilient -gasket mounted in said collar member andp'ositioned between said circularlridge andthe front wall of said cap,Vv Said gasket adapted to be stretched when said male pipe member is inserted through Vthe opening in said cap'and quick detachable connector means for yholding said pipe members against separation during use'. Y

'2. The combination' with male 'and female pipe l members constructed'of comparatively thin sheet metal of anenlarged cyiindrical collar member secured to the end of said female pipe member, said. collar membenbeingconstructed of thin sheet metal and having an open end, an inwardly turned circular ridge formed therein adjacent to A and parallel with' said open end, a heavy metal I cap telescopically mounted over the open end of saidv collar member and fastened thereto by hav-l i ing its end turned'doiv'n into the groove formed by said inturned rid-ge, sa'id cap having afront 40 wall with a reduced opening therein, 'said opening as shown I have `found thatthatfpossibility ofVr breaking, bending or distorting the femalewcoupler member due to rough handling orV frequent usage isr largely eliminated. Y 4. 'i

1 reinforced by curling' fov'er "the circular' edge of L the iront .wallto 1.a generally cylindrical crosssection,1a resilient gasket mountedvin' saidcollar `member and positioned between Asaid circular ridge and the front'f'wallfof'said cap, said gasket adapted to be@v stretchedjlwhen lsaidmale" pipe member is inserted: through/the opening in vsaid Mcap and V:quick detachable connect'ormeans' for holding said -pipemernbersfagainst separation lduring use.' s; L l 1.53: 1:, v

A i Y Y GEORGE F. I-LAUF.v

REFERENCES -CITlED;

The' followingreferencesare ofrecordln the jlerofjthisA patent?!v j` A A f ,onrrnosfrarns PIA'rENf Ts f Number i 'Name Y Date 221,935-.4We11s Mar. 3; v1903 846,9?15 Bruen 'iMar.'12,`l1907 2,087,916 f' Lanninger June27, `1937 

